Final answer:
The correct answer is B) Fentanyl, a potent opioid that requires the discontinuation of all other opioids upon its use. Mixing fentanyl with other opioids like morphine or oxycodone can lead to serious complications including overdose, due to their additive effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
B) Fentanyl The correct answer to the question is B) Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. When a patient is using fentanyl, all other opioids must be discontinued to avoid the risk of overdose or severe drug interaction since opioids can have additive effects that increase the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression. Patients are usually advised to not mix fentanyl with other opioid medications such as morphine, oxycodone, Vicodin, or methadone. Opioids, including fentanyl, are commonly used to alleviate severe pain but come with serious risks such as addiction, abuse, and overdose.On the other hand, NSAIDs like aspirin work by blocking the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes involved in pain and inflammation. They do not belong to the opioid class and therefore are not associated with the directive to discontinue other opioids when used; instead, they often come with their own set of concerns like increased risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeds, heart attack, and kidney disease.
Opioids are a category of drugs that includes heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine. They have analgesic properties, meaning they decrease pain. When using opioids, all other opioids must be discontinued. Examples of opioids are fentanyl, oxycodone, and vicodin. On the other hand, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as aspirin, work by blocking the enzymes involved in pain and inflammation and are not classified as opioids.